~ A kiss on the hand may be quite Continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend. ~

Although Marilyn Monroe sang about them in 1953, diamonds are thought to have first been recognized and treasured as gemstones and religious icons in ancient India (where they were mined too). The usage of diamonds in engraving tools also dates to early human history. The name diamond is derived from the ancient Greek "adámas" meaning "unbreakable, untamed".

In 1475 Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem, a Flemish stone-polisher from Bruges, Belgium, introduced the concept of absolute symmetry in the placement of facets on the stone. 17th century French jeweler, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605 -1689, and also with Belgian roots), was one of the early pioneer's of diamond trade with India. In his book "The Six Voyages of Jean-Baptist Tavernier" he documented many historically significant diamond cuts.

Popularity of diamonds has risen since the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques and growth in the world economy. And in our days we at Adin, based in Antwerp - Belgium, are offering the splendours of craftmanship from diamond polishers and goldsmiths of many centuries. This reflects itself in the diamond jewelry we have to offer from the 17th century and onwards.